Knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions regarding child abuse and neglect among dentists in Turkey.

Limited research attention has been paid to Turkish dentists' perceptions of child abuse and neglect (CA/N). This study aimed to examine Turkish dentists' knowledge about, attitudes toward, and perceptions of CA/N. A total of 229 Turkish dentists responded to the self-administered, valid and reliable questionnaire. It consisted of 34 questions that could be classified into the following conceptual categories: a) sociodemographic data, b) knowledge about legal procedures and the orofacial characteristics and findings that are indicative of CA/N, and c) self-efficacy and attitudes toward CA/N. Multivariate analysis of variance was conducted and partial eta squared coefficients were used statistically. Knowledge about legal obligations was associated with occupational experience, highest CA/N education, frequency of child dental treatment. Prior experience with case of suspected CA/N demonstrated the greatest effects. Knowledge about the orofacial characteristics and findings that are indicative of CA/N was associated with prior experience with at least one case of suspected CA/N. The most frequently provided reasons for failure to report cases of suspected CA/N were fear that the child would be harmed. Turkish dentists demonstrated moderate levels of knowledge about their legal obligations and the orofacial characteristics and findings that are indicative of CA/N. Dentists should receive detailed education on CA/N in their undergraduate and postgraduate education. In addition, it is necessary to increase awareness and knowledge about CA/N by providing in-service trainings at the institutions where they work.

Does the heat generated by fluorescence-aided caries excavation system effect the pulp temperature of primary teeth irreversibly? An in-vitro evaluation of the temperature changes in the pulp chamber.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to analyze the effect of the Fluorescence Aided Caries Excavation (FACE) and the remaining dentin thickness on the temperature changes of the pulp chamber. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Freshly extracted deciduous molars and a pulpal microcirculation model were used in the study. The sample size was calculated according to power analyses (power at 90%) based on previous studies. Thus, 40 samples were needed. Standard cavities (3x3 mm) were designed to obtain a 2 mm distance through to the pulp chamber, and in each tooth (n=10), these cavities were modified to obtain 1.5 mm, 1mm, and 0.5 mm final distance through to the pulp. Coronal parts of the teeth were placed on an acrylic plate with three gaps for feeding and extraction needles and the thermocouple. The temperature changes were recorded from the initial time to 15 s and 30 s,1 min, 1.5 min, 2 min, 2.5 min, 3 min intervals. RESULTS: The results showed that hence the thickness between cavity floor and pulp chamber was decreased, and application time of FACE was increased, an increase in temperature changes was detected. However, the recorded values were not mean to cause irreversible damages to the pulp chamber. CONCLUSIONS: The recent study showed that Face is an appropriate caries detecting system that does not affect the pulp chamber's health, and it can be safely used in the primary teeth. Key words:Caries assessment, dental caries, dental pulp, pediatric dentistry.

Temperature increases in primary teeth pulp chamber during polymerization of glass ionomer-based restorative materials.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the temperature changes in primary teeth pulp chambers of different dentin thicknesses during polymerization of four glass ionomer-based restorative materials. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighty extracted, caries­free, primary molars were prepared as standardized Class I occlusal cavities with dentin thicknesses of 1 mm and 2 mm. Four glass ionomerbased restorative materials, Dyract XP, Photac Fil Quick Aplicap, Fuji II LC, and GCP Glass Fill, were placed in the cavities and cured with two light-curing units. Temperature increases (initial temperature, 37°C) in the pulp chamber during polymerization were recorded by a J-type thermocouple in a pulpal microcirculation set-up. The data were analyzed with Variance analyses and Tukey tests. RESULTS: The temperatures recorded in samples with dentin thicknesses of 1 mm and 2 mm exhibited statistically significant differences (p<0.05). The GCP Glass Fill group exhibited the highest temperature increases for both dentin thicknesses (p<0.05). The other groups were not statistically different but the Dyract XP group exhibited the least temperature change. CONCLUSION: The highest temperature changes were observed for 1 mm dentin thickness. All temperature increases during polymerizations and setting reactions were lower than the corresponding critical values 5.5°C.